Journal #7- My Personal Learning Network (NETS-T I, II, III, IV)

(NETS-T I, II, III, IV)
A Personal Learning Network, or PLN, can be defined as a person or community online who contributes positively to your knowledge and skill of your interest. In this case, and in this class, it would be education, technology and teaching. My PLN is a combination of things. My main focus, however, are on people that may help assist me while I grow as a teacher with similar teaching styles, beliefs, and ideas I see may be helpful in my future classroom. I used several tools in order to broaden my PLN including Twitter, Diigo, and Google Groups to name a few. I am loving Diigo!! I love that I can search for something in Diigo and choose by which method I would like to search, such as looking for different educators (special education, SLP, and technology in education) that suggest different links, tools and teaching methods. These things get my wheels churning and lead to different ideas that I may not have thoughts of otherwise.

• Going on the Speech Language Pathology path, I thought it would be beneficial to add several special education forums, as well as SLPs and SLPAs to get an idea of what kind of lessons they are presenting in their classroom today. I "Listened in" to Twitter Chat #Elemchat on Saturday, March 19th at 6pm PST, 9pm EST. This was quite the appropriate discussion forum. The subject of the chat was, "What is digital citizenship and how do we encourage and develop it in the elementary classroom?" I had no idea what digital citizenship was, and to be honest, they kept suggesting that they define it, but no one did so I had to take it upon myself. From what I understood, it is the teaching of technology in the classrooms and more importantly, getting other teachers, faculty, and parents to enourage the use of technology in the classroom. Many of the participants were discussing how they incorporated technology into their classroom with the help of students and their parents. Several of the teachers brought up a couple sites they were fond of, Twiducate.com and Edmodo.com. Intrigued, I decided to google these sites and found that they were very similar to what we use at CSUSM as our Moodle/Cougar Courses. These sites are for students to view assignments, calendars, communicate with classmates. However, these sites are also able to be viewed by parents and other teachers. Had I not participated in this chat, I am not sure I would have learned about these sites which I am already trying to think of how to incoroporate into my future class lesson plans. These teachers also mentioned the burden of the school district blocking and one teacher suggested they use Ning as their "venue", which I recognized as part of my PLN assignment.

• While using Diigo, I have already added 5 groups to my account. A few dealing with special education, one dealing specifically with speech language pathology, one on educaton in general and then one with technology in education. There were several education blogs that were presented to this class, and while I chose 5 to bookmark, I think the three that I am most likely to follow are: Cool Cat Teach Blog, This Week in Education, and Adventures in Educational Blogging. These ones seem more "bloggish" to me. I can tell they are real people and the blogs don't read as if they are articles. Real people, concerned about education as well as hopeful that their ideas may be implemented into classrooms. 

• While I already belonged to Classroom 2.0, an article I found interesting was entitled, "Should teachers and students be 'friends' on social networking sites?" I think most people lean toward the side that says, "uh...no", and that is exactly where I stand. Social networking sites are for those to communicate with friends and be able to be themselves. Even in the article, one person suggests that if teachers become "friends" with their students, they should be prepared to wear their educator hats. To me, this is matter-of-fact, there should never be blurred lines, and teachers becoming friends with students is just inapproriate. The article tried to defend the action saying that perhaps this social networking site is a good form of communication from teacher to student, if the student has been missing from class and has an assignment due soon....e-mail them! I'm sorry, but in my opinion, it's not appropriate for a teacher to be a friend of a current student. End. Of. Discussion.

Journal #6-Grow Your Personal Learning Network (NETS-T II & III)

Warlick, D. (2009). Growing your personal learning network. Learning & Leading, 36(6). http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-march-april-2009.aspx

Prior to reading this article, my knowledge of Personal Learning Networks (PLNs), was very little. I really thought that the extent of it was Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn. What I failed to realize was that even before the internet, just as David Warlick mentioned, PLNs have always been. Umm...duh, Nikki...just, duh! Where did we get our information from before? Family members, friends, television ads, radio stations/hosts, co-workers, that guy that works at that one place, etc.

"Back in the day", people would get ideas from others just on a chance that something relevant may come up in conversation and/or brainstorm. However, now information is at our fingertips and in this era we are able to join PLNs such as Twitter, Facebook, Diigo, Delicious, and different blogs pertaining to the subject of your preference.

Warlick points out three different categories of PLNs, Personally maintained synchronous connections, Personally and socially maintained semi synchronous connections, and Dynamically maintained asynchronous connections. The first two mentioned can be used both professionally as well as personally. Personally maintained synchronous connections are text messages, Skype, iChat, etc. These can be used for either long distance relationships or for conference meetings/communication. Personally and socially maintained semi synchronous connections are the social networks that can also be used interchangeably such as Twitter, Facebook, and Google Documents. These are referred to as semi synchronous because they are not instantaneous, one person may leave a comment, and someone else can comment on it weeks later. Dynamically maintained asynchronous connections are those that are strictly used for work related research, ideas, and communication about anything related. Such forums might be Diigo, Delicious, and certain associations.

Regardless of the category associated with, it is unavoidable in this day and age, to be connected with any sort of Personal Learning Network.



Questions:

1. What are a few PLNs that you had prior to this class and did not realize?
I had a MySpace and Friendster before (no longer existing) and have a Facebook now. I even set up a Facebook for the company I work with in order to get in contact with our end user, but I still didn't realize that I was participating in a PLN.

2. What category of PLN is probably more commonly used?
Personally maintained synchronous connections are probably the most commonly used PLN. Text messaging alone has made a huge shift in our culture. Video chats and instant messaging are also evolving in our culture quickly as well.

Journal #5-Point/Counterpoint: Should Schools Be Held Accountable for Cyberbullying? (NETS-T IV)

Bogacz, R., & Gordillo, M.G. (2011). Point/counterpoint: should schools be held responsible for cyberbullying?. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_Schools_Be_Held_Responsible_for_Cyberbullying.aspx

This is a GREAT article. Bogacz brings up both sides to why teachers, parents, school administrators and students should and should not intervene when it comes to cyberbullying.

For being held responsible:

• Teachers: Teachers should be held not only responsible, but should keep an open eye and ear to children who voice being bullied via internet and cellphones. It is the teacher's job to know the law and know what enforcements they need to apply to get the situation resolved.
• Parents: Parents should hold all the control to what their children are doing on social networking sites as well as their cellphones. Proper punishment (such as removing a certain social networking site) should be enforced if the priviledge is abused.
• School administrators: School administrators should also be held responsible when it comes to the laws of bullying in general as well as be able to involve law enforcement if necessary.
• Students: Students should be made aware as to what constitutes as bullying and cyberbullying in this case. Bogacz mentions that most of the time peers do not want to involve themselves for fear that the bullying may turn to them, but this never helps the victim and/or the situation.

Gordillo counters the points above by mentioning that many of the schools simply do not have enough time and/or teachers and administrators after dealing with all of the students that already have behavioral problems. Gordillo mentions that it is up to the parents to show that each of their children is loved. This will assist in preventing any child from feeling as if they need to act out. He also suggests that schools can be of assistance, but the first place children should be learning their behavior from is from their own home environment.

Questions:

1. How can teachers assist with cyberbullying?
Teachers can first being by being knowledgable in the area of bullying. They can also bring the situation to the surface and address it to the students as well as be aware of when they may need to involve the principal for further investigation.

2. How can cyberbullying be prevented?
Gordillo suggests that by each child receiving love and education from their parents and/or family members will lead to non-behavioral issues at school.

Journal #4-It's Time to Trust Teachers with the Internet: A Conversation with Meg Ormiston (NETS-T I, V)

Schaffhauser, D. (2010, December 1). It's time to trust teachers with the internet: a conversation with meg ormiston. Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/12/01/Its-Time-To-Trust-Teachers-with-the-Internet-A-Conversation-with-Meg-Ormiston.aspx?sc_lang=en&Page=1

Meg Ormiston has been a curriculum coach, a school board member, and a grant stimulator among other things. In this conversation with Ormiston, she is determined to be the one to stick up for the teachers that seem to be forced into incorporating technology into the classroom, only to be slapped down by restrictions of the use of internet.  A question Schaffhauser asks is about the blocking of social networking sites. Ormiston does mention that teachers should filter the sites they use, but does bring up a fantastic point that as teachers and parents we need to teach students about making the right choices in how to navigate through the internet to find the proper information they are looking for. According to Ormiston, the problem can sometimes be the bandwidth that the schools have on their computers, as well as the spyware used to protect the computer from viruses that often prevent teachers and students from certain sites. Schaffhauser asks Ormiston what can be done by educators and administrators to which the answer is very discouraging. Ormiston mentions that it is up to teachers and their time outside of school in order to investigate their sites they would like to visit at their own homes because of the restrictions at school. Teachers are unsure as to what step to take after they have deemed the site "age appropriate", take it to the administration office and then wait for the "no" response they have been so accustom to hearing. Ormiston suggests that even though teachers may become discouraged that teachers keep trying as well as getting the school systems to use some sort of tiered approach. Allow the teacher access to the websites and have them filter through what should be deemed "age appropriate". They are teaching our children, why should they not be the one to guide them in the area of technology as well?

Questions:

1. How are students learning how to navigate through the internet?
As of right now it seems as if it is a trial-error sort of thing. Unfortunately, with the use of firewalls and spyware, even teachers are unable to filter what students are able to view while at school.

2. What is Ormiston's suggestion for teachers?
Keep trying. Making the effort to go home and research the sites on their own time and then submitting them to the administrators.

Journal #2-Enhance Your Twitter Experience/Join the Flock (NET-S II/III)

Miller, S. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20100607#pg16

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock!. Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Join_the_Flock.aspx

Having been one of those people who was very reluctant to join Twitter, even when it was a required assignment, reading "Enahnce Your Twitter Experience" at least assisted in other ways I may use it. I am still not quite fond of Twitter, but Miller explains many ways one may be able to utilize this tool. As a teacher, following other teachers in order to get assignment ideas and such, it one major advantage to using Twitter. Another great reason for using Twitter is the hashtag tool. The hashtag tool allows those to follow a specific tweet from someone on their network to someone else who may not be in their following and/or a follower. Miller also plugs a few organizational tools (tweetdeck.com, hootsuite.com) in which to manage your tweets, friends and tags/those who have tagged you and translate languages.

Furthermore, while reading "Join the Flock!" by Ferguson goes on to explain how one can most optimally use Twitter with a few simple steps. The first step of course involves signing up, followed by creating a list of people to follow. This can be referred to as a PLN (Personal Learning Network) which can be built easily by finding one great source and seeing who their following is and/or who they are following. Ferguson admits that even if someone joins, the do not necessarily have to contribute; one can just take the knowledge and suggestions. However, adding to the stream of Twitter is highly appreciated by all. She also mentions the hashtags which is mentioned by Miller above.

I would like to hear more about how I may best utilize Twitter other than the organization tools. I’m still feeling a little “eh” about it. :)

Questions:

1. What is one way that can enhance your experience with Twitter?
One may use an organizational tool such as tweetdeck.com. This will assist with organizing one's following, tweets, photos, etc.

2. What is a quick way for one to build their PLN?
Hashtags are a great way to follow new people. Once someone has at least one or two people they are following, they can often get great referrals by the hashtags their "friend" has tagged.